While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Yellowstone National Park was designated as the world's first national...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Yellowstone National Park was designated as the world's first national park in 1872.
- By the early 1900s, hunting and habitat loss had reduced the park's wolf population to near extinction.
- The last wolves were killed in Yellowstone by 1926 as part of predator control programs.
- In 1995, gray wolves were reintroduced to the park after a 69-year absence.
- The reintroduction program aimed to restore natural ecosystem balance.
- Wolf populations have since stabilized, leading to cascading ecological benefits throughout the park.
The student wants to explain the significance of Yellowstone's wolf reintroduction program. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Yellowstone National Park was designated in 1872, but by the early 1900s, hunting had reduced wolf populations.
The last wolves in Yellowstone were killed in 1926, and gray wolves were reintroduced in 1995 after 69 years.
After wolves were eliminated from Yellowstone by 1926, their 1995 reintroduction successfully restored ecosystem balance and created cascading ecological benefits throughout America's first national park.
Wolf reintroduction programs aim to restore natural ecosystem balance in national parks.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Yellowstone National Park was designated as the world's first national park in 1872." |
|
| "By the early 1900s, hunting and habitat loss had reduced the park's wolf population to near extinction." |
|
| "The last wolves were killed in Yellowstone by 1926 as part of predator control programs." |
|
| "In 1995, gray wolves were reintroduced to the park after a 69-year absence." |
|
| "The reintroduction program aimed to restore natural ecosystem balance." |
|
| "Wolf populations have since stabilized, leading to cascading ecological benefits throughout the park." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in 1995 successfully restored ecosystem balance after their elimination in 1926, creating widespread ecological benefits.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Yellowstone's unique status as America's first national park, then trace the complete elimination of wolves by 1926 due to hunting and predator control programs. The 1995 reintroduction program aimed to restore natural balance, and this intervention succeeded, stabilizing wolf populations and generating cascading ecological benefits throughout the park.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should connect the historical elimination of wolves to their reintroduction
- The answer must explain what the reintroduction accomplished or why it mattered
- The answer needs to use specific, relevant details from the notes rather than vague generalizations
- The significance lies not just in bringing wolves back, but in what that restoration achieved - the ecosystem benefits and successful restoration of natural balance
Yellowstone National Park was designated in 1872, but by the early 1900s, hunting had reduced wolf populations.
- Only covers the early history (1872 designation and early 1900s decline)
- Stops before mentioning the reintroduction program at all
- Doesn't explain any significance since it never addresses the actual reintroduction
The last wolves in Yellowstone were killed in 1926, and gray wolves were reintroduced in 1995 after 69 years.
- Provides timeline facts (1926 elimination, 1995 reintroduction, 69-year gap)
- Offers no explanation of why the reintroduction was significant
- Just states what happened without explaining the importance or impact
After wolves were eliminated from Yellowstone by 1926, their 1995 reintroduction successfully restored ecosystem balance and created cascading ecological benefits throughout America's first national park.
- Combines key historical context (elimination by 1926) with the reintroduction (1995)
- Specifically explains the significance: "successfully restored ecosystem balance and created cascading ecological benefits"
- Adds meaningful context by mentioning "America's first national park"
- Uses multiple relevant details from the notes while focusing on why the program mattered
Wolf reintroduction programs aim to restore natural ecosystem balance in national parks.
- Makes a general statement about wolf reintroduction programs everywhere
- Doesn't specifically address Yellowstone's program or its particular significance
- This trap option seems relevant but is too generic and doesn't explain what made Yellowstone's program specifically significant